How Much Should You Spend On Your Wedding Bands?

After the proposal, one of the biggest questions on people's minds is how much should they be spending on their wedding rings? It's a cost that some couples don't even initially consider in the moment. And, it can be tricky to figure out how much to set aside to buy wedding rings, especially with everything else going on!

There are so many costs associated with engagements and weddings, but making sure you get the right wedding band is important. These are not just rings but symbols of your love and commitment that will be worn on your fingers for the rest of your life. You want to make absolutely sure that it's a ring that works for your lifestyle and isn't outside your budget.

So, how much should you expect to spend on wedding bands? Well, we're going to give the same answer we do when people ask about engagement ring prices - it depends.

If you are shopping together as a couple, we recommend saving at the very least $1,000 to get simple bands that will still look nice. However, there are many different factors and variables that go into price. Many people will spend $5,000, $10,000 or even up to $40,000 on their wedding bands depending on what they are looking for.

What makes the price for wedding bands vary so drastically? To determine the relative price range for your desired wedding ring, here are some questions you should ask yourself before you get started:

What is your lifestyle?

When you are deciding on the type of wedding ring you'd like to get, you need to consider your lifestyle. This ring will be on your finger every day, and if you are someone who is active or works with their hands, some metals will fair better than others.

Even though the price may be higher, platinum is the most durable metal to choose for your wedding band. It's perfect for people who are hard on their hands, either at the gym, while working, or if you enjoy working on projects at home. Nurses, carpenters, and other professions that require a lot of hands-on work would really benefit from a platinum wedding band. Palladium is also a good alternative to platinum because it is similar in durability to platinum. It is more tricky to find a palladium band, however, because the metal is harder to manufacturer.

Gold, on the other hand, is a softer metal that is not as durable as platinum. Keep this in mind if you are thinking about purchasing a yellow, white, or rose gold wedding band. The ring may not be as forgiving to scratches or dents over time.

Do you mind having to maintain it in the future?

Related to a metal's durability, there are different procedures for maintaining certain metals in the future. Some metals, like platinum, you rarely have to think about after the initial purchase. The higher price corresponds to the fact that it's durable and you won't have to worry about it as much as you live your everyday life.

Other metals, like white gold, will need to be maintained after the initial purchase. White gold is a beautiful metal to choose for your wedding ring and often comes at a great price point. However, you will have to get your ring rhodium plated every so often in order to maintain the white color. After you start wearing the ring, you will eventually start to see some of the yellow gold peaking through the outer layer. This is when you will know it's time to get it rhodium plated. And, going back to your lifestyle, if you work every day with your hands, the ring will most likely wear faster and you'll have to maintain it more often.

There is a delicate balance between price and the convenience of buying a ring up front that might be the most durable metal. Think about your budget and your willingness to maintain the ring in the future.

What type of metal are you looking to get?

Considering lifestyle and expected ring maintenance, you may still have a few different metals in mind for your ring based on the look you want. Some men like the black wedding band look while others would like a traditional yellow gold ring. Some women want the ring metal to match that of their engagement ring and others want to choose one that purposely will look different than the engagement ring.

Each wedding ring metal is completely different and should be considered separately. There are many different pros and cons associated with each that you should be aware of. Click here to see a full list of the pros and cons of each wedding ring metal,

How elaborate do you want the ring to be?

One of the biggest factors that will determine the price of your wedding ring will be the smaller details that you would like to add. For instance, adding diamonds to a wedding band will increase the price substantially. The size of those diamonds will also play a large role in the overall price. As diamonds get larger, the price for them goes up significantly. This is because larger diamonds are more rare. So, if you are planning on getting a band with diamonds, consider the size and be prepared to spend more than a plain metal band. If you'd like to get an idea of how much diamond bands can cost depending on the size of the stones, take a look at a selection of our women's wedding bands that we have online.

The same idea also applies to wedding bands with gemstones. Any time that you add something beyond just a simple band, it'll make the price go up on the ring.

Does it need to exactly match the engagement ring?

For women, does it matter if the wedding ring exactly matches the engagement ring? If so, then your selection will be much more limited and the price that you pay may be a bit more out of your control. The price for your wedding ring will also be higher if you decide to custom design the ring in order to have it match your engagement ring exactly.

If you are willing to stray a bit from the perfect matching look, you can find a wedding band that will instead complement your engagement ring. A lot of women choose this to add personality and texture to their overall look, as opposed to something "matchy matchy" and uniform that may appear less exciting to the eye. That way, you'll have much more control over what you are getting and what you will end up paying. You can even go with a metal that isn't the same as your engagement ring based on what you want and the overall look you are going for. You also don't have to match the diamond size that is on the side of your engagement ring. Many women opt to have larger diamonds on their wedding band to create a bigger look altogether as a set.

Do you want it to be an eternity band?

Speaking of diamonds along the band, if you do want diamonds, you'll want to consider an eternity band (i.e., the diamonds go all the way around) but not if you only want them to go partially around the band. To get a big diamond look, many women will opt for an eternity band. Having an eternity band next to an engagement ring creates a stunning visual!

Some women, however, prefer to only have the diamonds on their wedding ring go half way or 3/4 the way on the band. This could be related to comfort or just personal preference based on what is within their budget. Either way, an eternity band look is very common. It will, however, drive up the price of the ring significantly. If you are interested, click here to see our extensive collection of  eternity bands we offer online and in our stores to get a feel for pricing.

Can you get a discount?

If you bought your engagement ring from a jeweler, they may offer you a special value to also buy your wedding bands at the same store. If you aren't sure, just check with them. A price accommodation may help you get the wedding rings that you actually want within your established budget.

You might also be able to get a good deal if you attend a wedding band event. Twice a year, Long's holds our Wedding Band Weekend event where we have wall-to-wall wedding bands at our Burlington store. With thousands of rings in one place at one time at great values, you can easily find exactly what you are looking for!